Broom winding machine



Oct. 5, 1965 J. VENOLIA BROOM WINDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1963 INVENTOR JOSEPH Vavaz. m

A T TORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 VENOM 3,210,125

BROOM WINDING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.6 FIG.7 F|G.4 v40 INVENTOR.

VENOL IA 8 FIG. 5 BY ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 J. VENOLIA BROOM WINDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1963 INVENTOR. Josspy VENOL/A Oct. 5, 1965 J. VENOLIA 3,210,125

BROOM WINDING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 li lilll jam M:

INVENTOR. JOSEPH 1 5 NOL m United States Patent 3,210,125 BROOM WINDING MACHINE Joseph Venolia, 3307 Pomona Blvd, Pomona, Calif. Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,271 8 Claims. (Cl. 300-14) The present invention relates generally to improved apparatus for applying bristles to broom cores; more particularly, the invention relates to machine improvements for the efficient, convenient application of bristles to rotary broom cores, and for the removal of bristles therefrom.

As is well known in the art, the bristles of rotary brooms, such as are used in mechanical street sweepers and the like, frequently become worn and require replacement. To facilitate the replacement, bristles are removably attached by a cable tightly wound in a helical groove in the broom core. Machines for mechanically applying bristles to a core in this manner are known in the prior art.

A machine according to the present invention comprises means for rotatably mounting a broom core, means for rotating the core, and means for feeding the cable into a helical groove in the core as the core turns. While the cable is being tightly wound in the core groove, bristles are fed into position for attachment to the core by a feed assembly. The cable being wound on the core is fed or drawn from a cable drum. Bristle feeding means are mounted on a feed carriage which during the Winding of the cable moves axially relative to the core, and positions bristles for attachment to the core by securement between the cable and the groove.

To remove bristles form a core, a separate stripper assembly is utilized, this assembly including a stripper blade and means for accurately guiding the cable as it is unwound from the broom core and Wound onto the cable drum, whereby the cable is properly aligned with the broom core groove preparatory to winding therein thereby assuring proper alignment and positioning of the feed assembly by means of the cable during the feeding of bristles from a feed chute into position for attachment between the cable and the core groove.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for applying bristles to a broom core.

An object of the invention is the provision of improvements in machines for applying bristles to a rotary broom core by winding a cable in a core groove.

An object of this invention is the provision of improved efficiency and convenience in the operation of machines according to the foregoing objects.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine according to the foregoing objects wherein the mechanical arrangement provides for the direct view and eflicient control of the actual operation of attaching bristles in the core groove by the cable.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved machine according to the foregoing object wherein said mechanical arrangement includes a bristle feed chute which extends under the cable drum, whereby bristles are fed upwardly within the view and control of an operator positioned on the side of the machine where the bristles are actually being secured by the cable in the core groove.

3,2 13,125 Patented Oct. 5, 1 965 An object of the invention is the provision of a machine according to certain of the foregoing objects, which provides improved means for the feeding and positioning of bristles for attachment to the broom core.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine according to the foregoing object wherein a feed assembly is urged axially of the broom core by the action of the cable on an angularly inclined pulley on the feed assembly during the winding of the cable in the core groove to attach bristles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a broom winding machine according to certain of the foregoing objects wherein improved accuracy in the positioning of bristles for attachment in the core groove by the cable is provided by the mounting of the feed assembly to pivot both transversely and axially of the broom core.

An object of the invention is the provision of a broom Winding machine according to certain of the foregoing objects, wherein a detachable upper section of the feed chute is pivotally mounted in assembly with a portion of the bristle conveyor assembly, whereby this pivotal assembly urges a conveyor chain against the cable being wound on the core to assist in bending bristles prior to their attachment to the core, and whereby the detachable assembly provides improved accessibility for maintenance and simplifies transporting the machine.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those versed in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claim and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of broom winding machine according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken at line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, showing details of the feed carriage assembly and associated element-s of the machine;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken at line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion 8 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view, taken at a position corresponding to line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, showing a stripper assembly utilized in removing bristles from the bristle core and steel cable;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken at line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a detailed view showing a bristle guide cooperating with bristles on the core, and showing certain details of the feed assembly;

FIGURE 12 is a view taken at line 12-12 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 12A is a view of an automatic brake associated with the cable drum;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken at line 13-13 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged sectional view, showing details of portions of the feed chute of the invention, this 3 view corresponding generally with the lower portion of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE is a sectional view taken at line 15-15 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a view of the rear of the feed carriage assembly, as viewed from the left in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged detailed view, showing brackets mounted on the feed chute, as shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5, these brackets supporting a sprocket and the inclined carriage drive pulley of the invention;

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view taken at line 18--18 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken at line 19-19 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary view taken at line 20-20 of FIGURE 15; and

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled portion 21 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URE 1, a broom winding machine according to the invention is shown as comprising a frame assembly 10, which includes generally triangular end frames 12, 14 which respectively have foot members 16 and 18, transverse members 20, 22 and vertical uprights 26, 28. A longitudinal top member 32 joins the upper ends of triangular end frames 12 and 14. Extending horizontally between transverse members 20 and 22 of the end frames are a pair of rails 34, 36, which are channel-shaped in cross sectional configuration.

The main assemblies and components of the broom winding machine and their structural relationships are shown generally in FIGURE 1, and are hereinafter described with reference to other figures which show assemblies and components in greater detail.

In FIGURE 1, a cylindrical broom core is shown as having an axially extending helical groove 42, the bristle core being fabricated of appropriate material, such as hard rubber, steel and/or wood. Bristles 44 have been wound on an end portion of the core. Core 40 is mounted on a core shaft 45 which is in alinement with a shaft 46. These shafts are journalled in bearings carried at the ends of suspension frame assemblies 48, which are suspended from the transverse top member 32 of the machine frame. An automatic brake assembly 52, shown in more detail in FIGURES 12 and 13, is mounted on bristle core shaft 46, a portion of the brake assembly being engaged for rotation with the shaft 46 by means of a key and keyway arrangement (not shown). The brake drum 320 is bolted to the female member 328 of the clutch and is independent of shaft 46 unless the clutch is engaged.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a horizontal platform 54 is positioned adjacent to transverse member 20 of end frame 16. Mounted on the platform is an electric motor 56, which drives a gear box 58 through a sprocket chain 60 which passes over a sprocket Wheel 62 on the motor shaft, and through a sprocket wheel 64 on a shaft extending from the gear box. Extending from the gear box is an output shaft carrying sprocket wheels which engage two sprocket or link chains 68, 70. Chain 68 drives a sprocket wheel 72 on bristle core shaft 46, and chain drives a sprocket wheel on a shaft 76 of cable drum 78, the cable drum being hereinafter described in more detail.

On the end of bristle core shaft 46 is a sprocket wheel 80, and on the end of cable drum shaft 76 is a brake 82, shown in more detail in FIGURES 2 and 3. The brake 82 includes a driving sprocket 84, which is engaged by a sprocket chain 86, which also engages a sprocket and an idler sprocket 88 mounted on upright member 26 of end frame 12, as shown in FIGURE 1.

' Cable drum shaft 76 is journaled in pedestal bearings on transverse members 20, 22 of the respective end frames 12 and 14, pedestal bearing 94 being supported on transverse member 22.

A feed assembly, designated generally by the numeral 96 in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, is on a carriage movable axially of the bristle core 40 and is powered through a shaft 98 which is parallel to the cable drum 78. Shaft 98 is journaled in a pedestal bearing 102 supported by the rail 34 (FIGURE 1). On shaft 98 is a sprocket 106 over which passes a chain 108 which also engages another sprocket 110 on shaft 76, whereby the shaft 98 is driven from shaft 76 to power the feed assembly. A clutch mechanism 114 (FIGURE 1), which may be conventional, provides means for controlling the drive of the feed assembly. The clutch mechanism 114includes a control handle 116, and is hereinafter described in more detail.

The feed assembly carriage comprises a chassis having transverse members and upright members 122, 124 (FIGURE 1). Axles extend from transverse members 120 and carry rollers 126 which ride in the channelshaped trackways or rails 34, 36, whereby the carriage assembly is movable axially of the bristle core 40 and the cable drum 78.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 14, the feed assembly includes a feed chute 130, which is hereinafter described in more detail.

The bristle core 40 is driven at a lower speed than the cable drum 78 because of the relative proportions of the sprockets through which power is transmitted to them.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, the brake 82 includes a drum 136 on shaft 76 of the cable drum, the shaft being journaled in pedestal bearing 138. A sprocket 84 has a hub 149 rotatably mounted relative to shaft 76 on bearings 142. Attached to the hub 140 is a disc 144 having a brake band or brake shoes 146 cooperable with drum 136. The brake is adjustable by means of a cable 150 attached to a pivot arm 152 which acts on an adjusting member 154, as shown in FIGURE 3. Member 154 pivots on the left end and is on center with pivot point 152 and when pushed up it will come to a stop of the end of 152 holding the brake in operating position.

With the bristle core 40 being driven at a lower speed than the cable drurn 78, drum 136 of brake 82 moves faster than brake band or brake shoes 146. The braking action tends to drive the brake band or the sprocket 84 around with it. Therefore, the braking action does not represent power lost through friction, but instead the braking action is utilized to assist and contribute to the driving of the broom core. It is obvious, that if the brake shoe 146 were fastened to a non-moving part of the machine that the total necessary energy required to maintain the stiff tension on the cable would be wasted. Now, as the diameter of the core will at all times be greater than the diameter of the cable drum, the drum will rotate faster than the core. The brake drum is bolted to cable drum via shaft 76, the balance of the brake rotates freely on shaft 76 and on bearings 142. With brake actuating lever 152 in the operating position, the brake bands 146 expand and engage the brake drum 136, this tending to pull the hub around with it. 84 is a sprocket gear and chain 86 tends to turn sprocket gear 80 which is mounted on shaft 46. Sprocket gear 88 is an idle gear to arrive at proper functioning to accomplish correct rotation.

During the operation of winding the cable on the bristle core 40, as hereinafter described, considerable tension is maintained in the cable as it is wound from the cable drum onto the bristle core. The purpose of the brake 52 (FIGURES 1, 12 and 13) is to prevent the bristle core 40 from freely unwinding in the event of power failure or mechanical breakdown, and while the machine is winding or unwinding a core.

In the operation of the broom winding machine, the operator stands on the far side of the machine, as the machine is viewed in FIGURE 1, and is thus able to directly observe the application of bristles and the cable to the core, and to control the operation. Power to the machine is controlled by means of a switch on the end of an arm 162 which extends horizontally from the top member 32 of the machine frame. It will be readily appreciated from the description hereinafter that the structure and arrangement of the feed chute and associated machine assemblies provide greatly improved efliciency and convenience to an operator in using the machine. These features enable the operator to be positioned on the side of the machine where he can observe the application of bristles to the core groove and their securement by the cable, and he is positioned where he can conveniently and directly control the feeding of bristles into the chute while observing their flow upward in the feed system to the position where they are applied to the core.

The feed chute 130 has a horizontal feed hopper portion 166 (FIGURE 4), an upper portion 168, and a lower curved portion which is configurated to extend underneath cable drum 78, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 14. The upper portion 168 is detachable from the lower curved portion 170. FIGURES 5 and 8 illustrate the cross-sectional construction of the chute. It comprises wall portions 172, 174 which are held in spaced relationship by bolts 176 and nuts, as shown. The transverse walls of the chute are formed by angle members 180, 182 which are attached to the walls 172 and 174, and they overlap each other. By this construction, it will be apparent that the thickness of the chute can readily be adjusted, in order to govern the rate of flow of bristles through the chute.

Referring to FIGURE 14, the upper portion 168 of the chute is detachable from the lower curved portion 170 by means of cooperating flanges 184, these flanges being retained in their relative positions by means of pins 186 secured to the flange of the upper portion 168 and ex tending through openings in the flange on lower curved portion 170. The upper chute portion rests on the lower chute portion by means of the flanges 184 and by means of a flange 188 and flange portion 190 on the opposite side of the chute.

Upper portion 168 of feed chute 130 is assembled as a unit with a driven sprocket chain assembly which cooperates in the feeding of bristles. This assembly comprises an upper sprocket 194 and a lower sprocket 196, with a sprocket chain 198 trained over these sprockets. The sprockets 194 and 196 plus chain 198 are freely rotatable until the bristles arrive at sprocket 196, FIG. 4; as the bristles move upwards the fingers on chain 198 engage the bristles. The sprocket chain has links 200 (FIGURES 6 and 7) from which extend fingers or prongs 201 which engage bristles to move and advance them during the feeding operation. Similar link sprocket chains 204, 206 cooperate with sprockets 208, 210, 212 underneath lower portion 170 of the feed chute. These sprocket chains also have links 200, and are so arranged that the fingers 201 extend through slots or openings 213 in chute portion 170, whereby the bristles are advanced along the chute, this construtcion being shown in FIG- URES 14 and 15. Sprockets 208, 210 and 212 are on transverse shafts 214, 218 and 219 which are supported by suitable bearings on the frame of the feed chute 130.

As stated, the driven conveyor chain assembly is mounted as a unit with upper portion 168 of the feed chute 130 by means of upper adjustable brackets 220 and lower fixed brackets 222 (FIGURE 4), the lower brackets supporting the sprocket 196. This assembly is mounted or attached to the lower curved portion 170 of the feed chute, and chain 226 is attached to bristle guide arm 292 and this guide arm it attached to sprocket 246. The weight of this assembly tends to move the driving conveyor chain 242 against the cable 230 which is being wound on the bristle core.

As shown in FIGURE 4, a gear 232 on shaft 98 meshes with a gear 234 which carries the sprocket wheel 208 hereinbefore mentioned. This sprocket drives a chain 206 and the sprocket 210, which with another sprocket, drives the chain 204 which passes over the sprocket 212 6 previously mentioned. The gear 232 is splined onto shaft 98 and moves axially along this shaft as the feed assembly 96 moves axially along the cable drum 78 on its carriage.

The discharge end of the feed chutes is shown at 238 in FIGURE 14. The bristles discharged from the feed chute feed into a position between the cable and a driver conveyor chain 242, which is driven by a sprocket wheel 244 on the same shaft as the sprocket wheel 212. This chain passes over an upper sprocket wheel 246 which is supported on uprights 248 extending upwardly from the carriage frame. The chain 248 is a driver chain and the chain 198 is a driven chain with the cable 230 moving upwardly betweenthem and onto the broom core 40. The bristles are discharged from the discharge end of the feed chute 238 in a transverse position between an upright run of the chain 248 and the cable 230 so that they are applied to the bristle core 40 between the helical groove therein and the cable which feeds into the groove, as is hereinafter described in more detail.

To achieve accurate and effective feeding of the bristles and the cable onto the bristle core or broom core 40, the feed assembly 96 is mounted for pivotal movement transversely of thebroom core and for pivotal movement axially of the broom core. FIGURES 16, 18 and 19 show the details of the pivotal mounting of the feed assembly. The feed assembly is pivotal transversely of the broom core about a pivot shaft 256 and is pivotal axially of the broom core about a pivot bolt 258, whereby the feed assembly can accommodate and align itself for effective feeding of the bristles and cable. The chassis or carriage of the feed assembly has uprights 260, 262, 264 and 266. Uprights 262 and 264 support a bracket member 270. The pivot bolt 258 extends through the member 270 and pivotally mounts a bearing assembly 272 relative to the bracket member 270. The shaft 256 is journaled in the bearing assembly 272, and members 274 and 276 are journaled on the shaft 256. Supported from these members by braces 280 and 282 is an upright guide channel memher 284. One run of the driving chain 242 moves in this channel. Carried on the member 270 are guide arms 290 and 292 which extend upwardly and inwardly with respect to the carriage assembly on opposite sides of the cable as it moves upwardly to the drum core. As the bristles are discharged from the chute in a position between the inside run of the chain 242 and the cable 230, as they move upwardly, they engage the guide members 290, 292 and they are folded or bent in a direction away from the chain 242, so that, as they reach the core 40, the bight of the bristles is applied and secured in the core groove by the cable.

During the operation of winding the cable on the core and attaching bristles to the core, the entire feed assembly 96 and its carriage move axially along the bristle core, the moving force being applied by the cable against a drive pulley 300 (FIGURES 4 and 17). As best shown in FIGURES 17 and 5, the pulley 300 is journaled between the ends of a pair of support arms or brackets 302, 304, mounted on the flange portion 190 of the lower curved portion of the feed chute 130. As shown, the pulley is mounted with an angular inclination. As the cable is wound on the broom core 40, the portion of the cable between the cable drum 78 and the broom core exerts force on the pulley 300 in the direction axial of the broom core. This axial force of the cable causes the entire feed assembly 96 and its carriage to move along the broom core in synchronization with the winding of 'the cable on the core.

FIGURE 11 illustrates the effect of the guide arms 290, 292 and an arcuate strip member in the application of bristles on the core. Arcuate strip member 310 is disposed at an angle and generally has a center similar to the axis of the broom core 40. It serves to hold or guide the bristles that have already been applied to the core out of the way during the applicaiton of following bristles to the core. This member is mounted on guide arm 292 by 7 means of a bracket 312 (FIGURE 4). Arcuate strip member 310 not only thus serves to hold attached bristles out of the way of the bristle attaching and cable winding operation, but it also assists in urging the feed assembly carriage axially of the broom core in the direction of the winding operation, because of the force exerted on the member by the bristles being held out of the way.

The clutch and brake assembly 52 (FIGURES 1, 12, 13) comprises a grooved pulley 320 on the core shaft 46. A flexible member 322, fabricated of rubber or the like, is trained over the pulley and a weight 324 is suspended at its end, the other end of flexible member 322 being secured at 326. A friction disc is axially movable to frictionally engage the confronting disc surface of the pulley 320. A hub member 332 is attached to disc 328 and has an annular groove 334 to engage the arms of a yoke member 336 which is manually operable by a handle portion extending from the yoke member, as shown. The disc 328 is brought into engagement with the braking disc surface of the pulley 320 to apply a friction braking load to the shaft 46.

The feed assembly 96 is readily movable on its carriage axially away from the vicinity of the broom core 40, and it is moved away from the broom core when the bristle removing operation is to be performed. For removing a cable and bristles from a core, a stripping assembly 350 is positioned as shown in FIGURE 9, so as to travel along the rail 36 axially of the broom core and cable drum. The stripper assembly comprises a pair of uprights 352, 354 which taper and have their upper portions joined together, as shown in FIGURE 10. Rollers 358 are mounted at the lower ends of members 352, 354, and travel in the trackway or rail 36, whereby the assembly is movable axially of the broom core. Extending from the members 352 and 354 are brace elements 360, 362. Journaled in the ends of the brace elements is a shaft 366 on which is mounted a grooved pulley 368. Brace members 372, 374 extend from the shaft 366 and support a pan 378 which receives bristles removed from the core and guides them out of the way of the machine. Another grooved pulley is supported by brace elements 380, 382 which extend from the upper portions of the uprights 352, 354, this pulley also engaging the cable 230 as it is removed from the broom core. The stripper assembly is thus well supported, and the stripper assembly is urged axially along the broom core by the action of the cable on the pulleys during the unwinding operation. Secured as by welding at the outer ends of the brace elements 380, 382 above the upper pulley is a stripper blade 384 which has flaring spreader portions 386 (FIGURE In the operation of the machine to unwind a cable from a core and to remove bristles, the core is rotatably mounted in the position shown in FIGURE 1, with the feeder assembly moved away from the core on its carriage. One end of the cable is unfastened from the core and is secured on the cable drum.

The broom core shaft 46 is in two parts and they are held in rotational drive only by the keyway in clutch portion 332 as clearly shown in FIG. 13. The far other end of the core is held in position by a bearing supported by a slidable member 50. The cable is unclamped from the core 40 and clamped to the drum 78 by clutch 114 as shown in FIG. 1. Switch 160 is closed to provide power to motor 56 and hence gears in box 64, the-n to chain 70 to sprocket wheel on shaft 76 which takes up the slack in the cable.

The cable alining and bristle removing device of FIGS. 9 and 10 now begins to function. Roller 358 is placed in the channel 36 (or 34) and sheave means 368 is alined upon cable 230. A firm pressure is applied upon hand grip 392 which holds the mechanism in proper position to travel along in channel 36 (or 34) to place the cable on the cable drum 78 in proper alinement with the core grooves for the rewinding operation and at the same time to remove worn bristles from the cable. As the worn bristles come around and down from the core groove, the sharp point of 386 enters the V shape of the bristles above the cable, and as the bristles move down they are spread open and the sheave 368 pushes them 011 of the cable 230. The, bristles obviously drop away from the stripper mechanism.

After completing the full length of the core, the stripper is removed and arrangement made to rewind the cable with new bristles by employing the feed assembly 96.

The operation of the broom winding machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The overall operation is hereinafter briefly outlined.

Bristles are placed in hopper 166 in parallel arrangement and are gravity fed into chute 168 and arrested by the fingers 201 on the carrier chain. Then a ratchet device, which is movable along but keyed to shaft 98 is brought by hand power to operate the entire feed mechanism, but not to rotate the broom core or the cable drum. The ratchet is then actuated in the proper direction to move the bristles under the cable drum to the starting groove in the broom core. The mechanism is now ready to operate by itself except for the hand feeding of the bristles into the chute 168. The clutch means 336 (FIG. 13) is engaged by sliding keyed portion 332 to transmit power through shaft 46, sprocket 72, chain 68, etc. with clutch 116 closed. This connects cable drum and shaft 98 and as the core turns, it pulls the cable off the cable drum causing it to turn and deliver power to sprocket 110, chain 108 and sprocket 106 which is keyed to shaft 98. Shaft 98 has a slidable spur gear 232 (FIG. 4). which engages gear 234 to drive the rest of the feeder mechanism lengthwise of the broom winding machine.

The clutch assembly 114 (FIGURE 1) is next actuated to operate the feed assembly 96. During the cable winding and bristle attaching operation, the feed assembly 96 on its carriage moves axially along the broom core 40 in the manner hereinbefore described, the feed assembly being urged axially in the direction of winding by the urging of the cable 230 against the angularly positioned pulley 300.

As hereinbcfore mentioned. the unique arrangement of the assemblies and components, particularly the feed chute arrangement, enables the operator to be positioned on the side of the machine facing the actual securement of bristles by the cable in the core groove, thus providing for the efficient, convenient control of the operation. Bristles are manually fed into the hopper 166 and are initially aligned substantially transversely of the chute, the rate of supply of bristles being governed by the spacing of the lower feed chute 130. The bristles pass downwardly through the chute, are engaged by the bristleadvancing fingers or prongs 201, which maintain the bristles oriented substantially transversely of the chute and which advance them through the chute, from which they are discharged in a position between the driving and the driven endless conveyor chains. As stated, the detachable upper section or portion 168 of the chute is assembled as a pivotal unit with one of the conveyor chains. This pivotal mounting is such that the weight of the upper chute section acts against the cable to assist in the moving of the bristles and the maintaining of the bristles in proper position. This is due to center of gravity and the weight of hopper 168 on link chain 226 through 312 to shaft of sprocket 246 and chain 242 which presses the bristles against cable 230. The bristles move upwardly between the driven conveyor chain and the driving conveyor chain, then further upwardly between the driven chain and the cable 230 to the position between the core groove and the cable where they are tightly secured by the cable in the groove. In moving upwardly into this position, the bristles are guided and bent by the guide arms 290, 292 and by the cable so that the bight of each bristle is seated in the groove underneath the cable.

The pivotal mounting of the feed assembly 96, whereby it is pivotal on two axes, permits the feed assembly to accommodate itself most effectively to the position of the cable as the cable is wound into the core groove, whereby very accurate and effective application of bristles to the core is achieved.

From the foregoing, those versed in the art will observe that the present invention achieves the objects and realizes the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, as well as other objects and advantages which are apparent from the detailed description. A very efiective, efiicient machine is provided for the application of bristles to broom cores, and for the efiicient removal of cable and bristles from such cores.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the same is merely exemplary of presently preferred embodiments capable of attaining the objects and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, and that the invention is not limited thereto; variations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art, and the invention in entitled to the broadest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

The inventor claims:

1. In a broom winding machine having means for rotating a broom core with a helical groove therein, a cable supply means for winding a cable onto the core in said groove, a feed assembly means movable axially relative to the broom core for feeding bristles for attachment in the core groove by the cable, drive means carried by the feed means and engaging the cable being wound on the core, whereby engagement between the cable and said drive means drives the feed means axially along the core during the broom winding operation.

2. In a broom winding machine having means for rotating a broom core with a helical groove therein, a cable supply means for winding a cable onto the core in said groove, 'feed assembly means movable axially relative to the broom core for feeding bristles for attachment in the core groove by the cable, pivotal mounting means for the feed assembly, said mounting means allowing pivotal movement of the feed assembly axially of the core and allowing pivotal movement of thc teed assembly transversely of the core, whereby the bristles are accurately fed into position for attachment between the cable and the groove.

3. A broom winding machine comprising means for rotating a helically grooved broom core, a cable drum having a cable wound thereon, means for rotating the broom core and the cable drum to wind the cable from the drum into the axially extending helical groove in the core, carriage means movable axially of the cable drum and the broom core, bristle feed means on the carriage means for moving bristles into position for attachment in the core groove by the cable, and means including a drive pulley carried by the carriage means and engageable with the cable to drive the carriage means axially along .the cable drum and the broom core.

4. A broom winding machine comprising means for rotating a helically grooved broom core, a cable drum having a cable around thereon, means for rotating the broom core and the cable drum to wind the cable from the drum into an axially extending helical groove in the core, carriage means movable axially of the cable drum and the broom core, means including a drive pulley carried by the carriage means and engageable with the cable between the drum and core to drive the carriage means axially along the cable drum and the broom core, and bristle feed means on the carriage means for moving bristles into position for attachment in the core groove by the cable, said feed means including a feed chute having an inlet portion, a discharge portion and an intermediate portion extending beneath the cable drum for vertical feeding of bristles to the core.

5. A broom winding machine comprising means for rotating a helically grooved broom core, a cable drum having a cable wound thereon, means for rotating the broom core and the cable drum to wind the cable from the drum into an axially extending helical groove in the core, carriage means movable axially of the cable drum and the broom core, means including a drive pulley carried by the carriage means and engageable with the cable between the drum and core to drive the carriage means axially along the cable drum and the broom core, bristle feed means on the carriage means for moving bristles into position for attachment in the core groove by the cable, said feed means including a feed chute having an inlet portion, a discharge portion and an intermediate portion extending beneath the cable drum, and upright endless conveyor means forming part of said feed means and positioned adjacent to the cable portion extending between the cable drum and the broom core for advancing the bristles upwardly to a position for attachment to the broom core by the cable in clear view of the operator of the machine.

6. A broom winding machine comprising means for rotating a helically grooved broom core, a cable drum having a cable wound thereon, means for rotating the broom core and the cable drum to Wind the cable from the drum into an axially extending helical groove in the core, carriage means movable axially of the cable drum and the broom core, means including a drive pulley carried by the carriage means and engageable with the cable between the drum and core to drive the carriage means axially along the cable drum and the broom core, bristle feed means on the carriage means for moving bristles into position for attachment in the core groove by the cable, said feed means including a feed chute having an elevated inlet portion, a discharge portion and an intermediate portion extending beneath the cable drum, an upright endless conveyor means forming part of said feed means and positioned adjacent to the cable portion extending between the cable drum and the broom core for advancing the bristles upwardly to a position for attachment to the broom core by the cable, and generally upright bristle guide means positioned adjacent to the cable being wound onto the broom core to bend the bristles outwardly from the broom core as they are attached thereto.

7. A broom winding machine comprising means for rotating a broom core having a helical groove therein, a cable drum positioned below the core and having cable wound thereon, means for driving the cable drum and the broom core to wind cable from the drum onto the core, bristle feed means including a chute having an inlet portion, a discharge portion and an intermediate portion extending underneath said cable drum, and conveyor means forming part of said bristle feed means, said conveyor means comprising first and second endless conveyor means on opposite sides of the cable portion extending between the core and the drum, said conveyor means advancing and guiding bristles upwardly into position for attachment to the broom core for securement in the groove by the cable, said second endless conveyor means being positioned on the side of cable portion away from the core, said chute inlet portion being demountably and pivotally attached to the intermediate chute portion, said second endless conveyor means and said chute inlet portion being mounted as a unitary assembly, whereby said unitary assembly is rotationally urged by gravity in a direction to cause said second endless conveyor means to exert pressure against said cable portion as the cable is wound onto the core.

8. A broom Winding machine comprising means for rotating a broom core having a helical groove defined therein, means for winding a cable onto the core and into the groove, carriage means movable axially of the broom core, a trackway for the carriage means, bristle feed means mounted on the carriage means, said feed means including a feed chute and endless conveyor means for 1 I feeding bristles into position to be attached to the core by securement in said groove by the cable, said bristle feed means comprising a pivotally mounted assembly pivotal transversely of the bristle core and pivotal axially of the core, and an angular mounted drive pulley on the feed means and engaging the cable being Wound onto the broom core, whereby the pivotally mounted feed means is flexible to accommodate itself about its pivotal mounting in accordance with the engagement between said drive pulley and the cable, whereby effectively to feed and to position the bristles relative to the core groove and the cable being wound therein. 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,423 10/55 Seavey et al. 300 14 2,927,820 3/60 Pierce 300 14 2,937,900 5/60 Koback 300-44 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BROOM WINDING MACHINE HAVING MEANS FOR ROTATING A BROOM CORE WITH A HELICAL GROOVE THEREIN, A CABLE SUPPLY MEANS FOR WINDING A CABLE ONTO THE CORE IN SAID GROOVE, A FEED ASSEMBLY MEANS MOVABLE AXIALLY RELATIVE TO THE BROOM CORE FOR FEEDING BRISTLES FOR ATTACHMENT IN THE CORE GROOVE BY THE CABLE, DRIVE MEANS CARRIED BY THE FEED MEANS AND ENGAGING BETWEEN THE CABLE AND THE CORE, WHEREBY ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE CABLE AND SAID DRIVE MEANS DRIVE THE FEED MEANS AXIALLY ALONG THE CORE DURING THE BROOM WINDING OPERATION. 